[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 5]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR315.5]

[Page 173]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                           SERVICES--Continued
 
PART 315--DIAGNOSTIC RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 315.5  Evaluation of effectiveness.

    (a) The effectiveness of a diagnostic radiopharmaceutical is 
assessed by evaluating its ability to provide useful clinical 
information related to its proposed indications for use. The method of 
this evaluation varies depending upon the proposed indication(s) and may 
use one or more of the following criteria:
    (1) The claim of structure delineation is established by 
demonstrating in a defined clinical setting the ability to locate 
anatomical structures and to characterize their anatomy.
    (2) The claim of functional, physiological, or biochemical 
assessment is established by demonstrating in a defined clinical setting 
reliable measurement of function(s) or physiological, biochemical, or 
molecular process(es).
    (3) The claim of disease or pathology detection or assessment is 
established by demonstrating in a defined clinical setting that the 
diagnostic radiopharmaceutical has sufficient accuracy in identifying or 
characterizing the disease or pathology.
    (4) The claim of diagnostic or therapeutic patient management is 
established by demonstrating in a defined clinical setting that the test 
is useful in diagnostic or therapeutic patient management.
    (5) For a claim that does not fall within the indication categories 
identified in Sec. 315.4, the applicant or sponsor should consult FDA on 
how to establish the effectiveness of the diagnostic radiopharmaceutical 
for the claim.
    (b) The accuracy and usefulness of the diagnostic information is 
determined by comparison with a reliable assessment of actual clinical 
status. A reliable assessment of actual clinical status may be provided 
by a diagnostic standard or standards of demonstrated accuracy. In the 
absence of such diagnostic standard(s), the actual clinical status must 
be established in another manner, e.g., patient followup.